Our zero-carbon future depends on innovative chemical energy conversion and a sustainable hydrogen economy
The conversion of renewable electricity to essential chemical energy carriers will be crucial for a zero-carbon energy system. For instance, green hydrogen produced via electrolysis is vital for decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries such as steel, cement, and chemical production, as well as for large-scale, long-duration energy storage. Additionally, converting hydrogen into other carriers, like ammonia, offers opportunities for its use as a direct fuel and as a medium for long-range energy distribution.
Research at the University of Oxford takes a systems approach to chemical conversion and the evolving hydrogen economy, covering scales from nano-level electro-catalysis to international energy systems modeling. Recent studies highlight ammonia’s potential as a low-carbon shipping fuel and identify optimal global sites for green hydrogen production and distribution. Our ongoing work in advanced catalysts and materials continues to enhance electrochemical conversion processes for hydrogen and e-fuels. This interdisciplinary approach spans multiple scales, advancing the global hydrogen economy as a cornerstone of the future zero-carbon energy landscape.
Our Conversion Case Studies
Project LEO (Local Energy Oxfordshire)
Project LEO demonstrated how local energy systems can accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon energy future through innovative ... Read more
Solid Oxide Electrolysers for the transition to net ZERO
We tune grain and phase boundaries for electro-ceramics for electrolysers. Critical reactions in electro-ceramics depend on the ... Read more
Materials for next-generation photovoltaics
Groups from Chemistry, Physics and Materials are developing a new generation of light-harvesting materials that can increase the ... Read more
Our Research Areas
Generation
Conversion
Distribution
Storage
Usage
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About the ZERO Institute
We want to shape the transition to a just and fair global zero-carbon energy system, through research that unifies technology, policy, and people.
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The ZERO Institute is a multi-disciplinary hub for zero-carbon energy research, bringing together academics from across the University of Oxford.
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